Device for applying gummed strips to packages, &amp;c.



E. 0. BALDWIN.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING GUMMED STRIPS TO PACKAGES, 6w.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.14, 1908. I

1,106,487, I Patented Aug.11,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F,- 2 FT -1- 30 g p u WITNESSES. 6 a INVENTUF-i- UQPTW 5.66M M ?Wfi;i

E. G. BALDWIN.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING GUMMED STRIPS T0 PACKAGES, (Sm.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.14,1908.

1,106,437. Patented Aug*.11,1914.

FI'EL A? 3 SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

WITNESSES F .5" INVENTEJR 5% MM wgv E. G. BALDWIN.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING GUMMED STRIPS TO PACKAGES, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED mo. 14, 1908.

,437. Patented Aug. 11,1914.

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\A/l TNESSES. UV VENTD G) f. W

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD C. BALDWIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING GUMMED STRIPS TO PACKAGES, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11', rate.

Application filed December 14, 1908. Serial No. 467,347.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. BALDWIN,

of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices fOI'AP- plying Gummed Strips to Packages, &c., of which the followin is a specification.

This invention relates to means for a ply ing gummed strips of paper or other suitable material to surfaces of bundles or packages, or to other surfaces for securing and sealing purposes, for example, as a substitute for string, for securing packages, or as a means for sealing doors and windows, binding joints of veneer, general passe-partout work, etc.

The invention has for its object to provide a compact and eflicient strip-moistenlng and applying device which may beaportable, and adapted to be carried by the operator, and moved relatively to the package; and also used if desired, to apply sealing strips to doors and windows which have been ordered closed by health authorities, the device being, further, of such construction that it may be held in a fixed position, the package to be fastened being moved relatively to it during the operation of applying the strips.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim. I

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificat1on, Figure 1 represents a partial side elevation and a partial section of a strip-applying device embodying my invention. Fig. 1 represents a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 represents an edge view of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 represents an edge view of the device shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a third embodiment of the invention. Fig. 7 represents an edge View of the device shown in Fig. 6. -Fig. 8 represents a bottom view of a portion of the moistening means. Fig. 9 represents a sideview partly in section showing a fourth embodiment of the invention. Fi .10 representsaview similar to Fig. 9, showing the device in use. Fig.

11 represents a side view of a portion of the reservoir shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 12 represents a perspective view of a part of the 10 der shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 13

rapresents a section on line 13-43 of Fig.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring now to Fi s. 1 to 8, inclusive, 12 represents a casing w ich may be a cylindrical box of sheet metal, having a removable side 13, constituting the cover of a space or chamber adapted to contain a coiled strip 14 of gummed paper, or other suitable flexible material, the strip being usually gummed on one side only. The holder is provided with an opening 15 through which the strip is adapted to issue from the holder.

16 represents a strip backing member arranged to bear on the back of a portion of the strip outside the holder and sup ort the same against a moistener 17 w liich is adapted to bear on the gummed side of the portion of the strip which is backed b the member 16. The moistener is preferably a plug of felt or other suitable absorbent material adapted to serve as a capillary conductor, said plug being inserted in and filling the mouth of a reservoir 18, which may be of segmental form, and aflixed to the perimeter of the holder, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 6. The reservoir is adapted to contain a suit able quantity of water to moisten the gummed surface of the longest strip that the holder is adapted to contain. The moistener 17 is preferably attached to the reser voir by pins or rivets 19.

The reservoir is provided with a filling aperture 20 having a suitable cap or closure 21, which may be provided with an adjustable valve 22, whereby air may be ad- {nitteid to take the place of the consumed The backing member 16 may be a resilient metal arm secured by clamping nuts 23 engaged with screws aflixed to the body of the holder, the outer end portion of the backing member being pressed toward the moistener 17 so that it presses the interposed portion of the strip 1 L against the moistener.

2 1 represents a resser-foot which is con- 25 which is preferably secured by the clamping nuts 23 which secure the backing member 16. The resser-foot is formed to press or wipe the moistened strip against the surface of a package or other body, the presserfoot being arranged to bear upon the back of the moistened portion of the strip in suitable proximity to the moistening device.

The preferred relative arrangement of the resser-foot, the backing member, and themoistening device, is such that the moistening strip is deflected from the course it takes while passing over the moistening device, as indicated in Figs. 1, 4, 6, and 10, which show diflerent forms in which the 'presser-foot may be made.

'26 represents a stripsevering cutter which is adapted to sever the strip at a point be-' tween its applied portion and the moistening device, the cutter being preferably a thin, flat metal plate, having a cutting edge which is serrated, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 7. V

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cutter is aflixed by screws 27 to an ear 28 formed on the presser-foot 24, the arrangement of the cutter being such that it is adapted by a. suitable movement of the applying device relatively to the package, or of the package relatively to the applying device, to sever the strip 14 along a transverse line close to the outer end of the resser-foot, it being understood that the holder and the above described parts associated with it may either be fixedly supported, for example, by a stand or bracket 29, shown in Figs. 1, 9, and 10, or may be portable and adapted to be moved about by the hand or hands of the operator. If the applyin device is fixed, the package will be moved in order to cause the severance of f the strip by the cutter 26. If the applying to sever the strip at one edge, the cut extending progressively across the strip.

30 represents a supplemental presser-foot or finger adapted to bear upon the strip at the opposite slde of the cutter from the part on which the presser-foot 24 bears, the function of the supplemental foot 30 being to press the end of the applied strip formed by the severing operation against the surface to which the strip is applied, and to protect the package from damage by the cutter.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cutter 26 is attached to a lever 31 pivoted at 32 to an car on the resser-foot shank 25, the cutter having a limited movement independently of the presser-foot. The object of this independent movement is to cause a clamping finger or member 33 formed on one end of the lever 31 to coiiperate with a fixed clamping member 34 in clamping the strip 14 at a point between the moistening device and the holder. The cutter is moved by its pressure against the strip in the operation of severing the latter, in such manner as to press the finger 33 against the strip 14, and the latter against the fixed member 34. The strip is thus held so that it cannot be freely pulled from the holder by the strain exerted on it during the ject and retract the cutter, as indicated by dotted and full lines in Fig. 6, the projection of the cutter causing it to pass through a slot in the presser-foot and sever the strip. When the latter is projected, a projection 39 on the lever is pressed against the strip'14 and presses the strip against a fixed clamping member 34, thus confining the unat tached portion of the strip against endwise movement. The lever 36 is provided with a suitable finger rest 40 to'receive pressure from the operators finger required to pro ject the cutter. The lever 36 is also pro vided with an arm 41 which is adapted to bear against the backing arm 16, and press thelatter toward the moistener or plug 17 In this case, the pressure exerted by the arm 41 on the backing arm is caused by the operators finger, who exerts pressure on the finger rest 40 in the direction required to move the lever from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown in full lines in Fig. 6.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the same result, that is, the pressure of the backing member toward the moistener, is produced by a lever 42 pivoted at 32 to the presser-foot shank, and having a. shorter arm projecting through a slot in the presserfoot 24, and a bent longer arm terminating in a finger 43 bearing on the backing member 16. In this case, the strip, while in contact with the presser-foot, exerts pressure on the lever 42 in the direction required to cause the finger 43 to press the backing member toward the moistener.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the

pressure of the backing member toward the moistener is due to the resilience of the backing member. In this construction the whereby it may be pressed inwardly by the.

operator to cause the clamping of the strip. In Fig. 1 the fixed clamping member 34 is an ear formed on the holder 12, the movable clamping member 45 being arranged to coiiperate therewith in the manner above described. A spring 45'is provided to normally retract the member 45 from the member 34. 45 represents a pin or stud which is attached to the backing member 16, and'is adapted to press the latter and the strip toward the porous'plug or moistener 17.

The end of the reservoir in which the side of the moistener preparatory to applying it to a package. This result may be secured by providing the. reservoir with a beveled end v4'2, as shown in Fig. 6. To

' properly support the exposed portion of the moistener 17, I providethe reservoir with wire arms 48 (Fig. 8) which are adapted to prevent theexposed portion from being disa placed.

49 represents a spring plate secured by rivets 50 to one of the sides of the holder, one end of the plate being adapted to be pressed by a push button 51 against one end of the coil, and constituting a drag or brake ad to prevent undesirably free rotation of the coil.

Figs. 9 and 10 show an embodiment of the invention in which the reservoir 18 is supported independently of the holder, and is 49 independently movable so that the porous plug or moistener 17 is adapted to be moved into and out of contact with the portion of the strip 14 which is backed by the backing arm or member 16, the moistener being nor-' mally. held yieldingly at a distance --from the backing member so that when the device is not in use, there will be no contact between the moistener and the strip, and the latter will not become softened and weakened by the absorption of moisture. The

reservoir is supported by studs 52 aiiixed to i the lower ends of links 53 which are pivoted at 54 to the stand or bracket 29, the reservoir being movable endwise by swinging 55 movements of the links 53 on their pivots.

When the reservoir is in its normal position, the moistener is separated by a considerable distance from the backing member 16, as

shown in Fig. 9, and is therefore out of con- 6 tact with the portion of the strip backed by said member. Means operated by a. pull on the strip 14 are provided for moving the reservoir endwise to press the moistener against the portion of the strip that bears on 6 the backing member, as indicated in Fig. 10,

said means, as here shown, including the presser-foot 24, which in this case ispivoted at 55 to a fixed support, an arm 56 rigidly attached to the presser-foot, andprojecting upwardly therefrom, and a. lever 57 pivoted at 58 to a fixed support, one arm'of. saidlever being connected withone of the links 53 by means of a stud 64 on the lever;57- operating in an elongated slot 65 in one of the links 53, while the other arm is connected by a link 59 with the presser-foot arm 56. When the device is not in use, the reservoir assumes by gravitation or through the instrumentality of a suitable retracting spring, not shown, the position shown in 30 Fig. 9, the presser-foot being inclined so that pressure exerted on its under side by a pull on the strip will move the presser-foot to the position shown in Fig. 10. This pressure is imparted through the arm 56, link 59,. 35 and lever 57 to the reservoir which is moved toward the backing member until the'mois tener comes in contact with the strip. When the pull on the strip terminates, the parts automatically return to the position shown 9o in Fig. 9.. The reservoir is preferably detachably secured to the studs 52 by sockets 66 (Fig. 11) attached to the bottom of the reservoir and adapted to receive the studs, and latches 60 pivoted at 61 to the reservoir, and notched at their outer ends to engage grooves in the outer ends. of the studs. In this embodiment of the invention, the backing member 16 is a flange or ear rigidly attached to the stand or bracket 29. 67 represents 'a guide attached to the backing member to prevent the strip 14 from swinging away from the latter into contact with the moistener 17 The lower end of the backing member and, the adjacent portion of the presser-foot have curved portions 68, 69 over which the strip is bent when it is being drawn out. Owing to the fact that the strip is thus somewhat abruptly bent While under tension, the free end of the strip which hangs below the backing member after the severance of the applied portion, has a tendency to curl under the presser-foot and away from the moistener. This tendency is an additional factor in preventing contact be tween the strip and the moistener when the device is not in use. The strip holder shown in this embodiment of the invention is composed of two heads or side pieces 70, 71, and

a spindle 72 permanently attached to the head 70, and passing loosely through an orilice 73 in the head 71. The inner portion of :the spindle 72 is cylindrical, so that a spool or core 74 on which the strip 14 is wound, may rotate freely on the spindle. The outer portion of the spindle which occupies the orifice 73 is square in cross section, the orifice being similarly formed, so that the head 71 while free to move sidewise toward and from the head 7 0 to accommodate a strip of 1% any desired width, is prevented from rotating on the spindle. The squared portion of the spindle is elongated to give the head 71 considerable freedom of lateral movement, and has portions of a screw thread on the corners of its outer portion, these engaging a nut 75 between which and the head 71 is a spring 76 which presses the head 71 against the coiled strip. The margins of the heads 70, 71 are providedwith fingers 77 which guard the coiled strip. This construction provides for the removal of the head 71 when a new strip is to be inserted. The pressure of the head 71 against the coilby the spring 76 prevents undesirably loose rotation of the coil.

In each form shown, the cutter is located at a point beyond the moistening means and beyond the point of applying the strip to the package or bundle, in regard to the direction of movement of the strip; that is, the strip first moves from the holder, is then moistened, is then applied by the presser foot, and is then cut off. The result is that no moistened portion of the strip need ever be touched by the operator, and a pendent portion will always be left projecting ready to be applied to any bundle or package. If

. such projecting portion is left long enough to have become dry it can simply be first pressed backward into contact with the moistener and then again returned under the resser foot to be applied.

hile the form of the device shown in Figs. 9 and 10 shows no clamp for holding the strip, yet it will be readily understood that the finger 33 shown in Fig. 4 could be readily added to the structure shown in Fig. .9, or the clampin member 45 shown in Figs. 1 and 1 coul readily be added to the device shown in Fig. 9, without in any way constituting a modification of the device shown in Fig. 9. The illustration of such a clamping member has been omitted from Fig. 9 in order to avoid confusion in the illustration of the means for shifting the reservoir backward and forward in that figure.

1 claim:

1. A strip-applying device comprising a strip-holder, a strip-backing member, means for applying and severing the strip, a reservoir movable toward and from the backing member, and having a moistener adapted to act on a strip bearing on the backing memher, said moistener being normally retracted from the backing member and strip, and means actuated by a pull on the strip for moving the moistener toward the backing member.

2. A strip-applying device comprising a strip-holder, a strip-backing member, a reservoir movable toward and from the backing member and having a moistener adapted to act on a strip bearing on the backing member, said reservoir being yieldingly held with the moistener retracted from the backing member, a resser-foot pivoted adjacent to the backing member and movable on its pivot by a pull on the strip, and connections between the presser-foot and the reservoir, whereby the reservoir is moved toward the backing member by a movement of the resser-foot,

3. A strip-applying device comprising a strip-holder, a strip-backing member, means for applying and severing the strip, a reservoir movable toward and from the backing member, and having a strip-moistener which is normally retracted from the backing member and strip, and a guide between the backing member and moistener to prevent contact between the strip and moistener, when the latter is retracted.

4. A strip-applying device comprising a strip-holder, a strip-backing member, means for applying and severing the strip, oscillator supports adjacent to the backing mem er, and a reservoir removably secured to said supports, and provided with a moistener adapted to act on a strip bearing on the backing member, said reservoir being movable with its supports to retract and project the moistener.

5. A strip-applying device comprising a strip-holder, a strip-backing member, oscillatory supports adjacent to the backing member, a reservoir carried by said supports and provided with a moistener, a pivoted resser-foot having an arm, and connections between said arm and the reservoir, whereby a movement imparted to the resser-foot by a pull on the strip is imparted to the reservoir.

6. A strip-applying device comprising a strip-holder, a strip-backing member, a stri -applier and cutter'beyond said stripbac ing member, a moistener opposite the backing member, said applier having its face exposed and unobstructed to permit a strip of indeterminate length to pass it and to be applied to apackage, means whereby the moistener may bear against a strip drawn over the backing member while the strip is being applied, and means for automatically separating the strip and moistener at the end of a strip-applying operation.

7. A strip-applying device comprising a strip-holder, a strip-backing member, a presser foot adapted to apply the strip, a cutter for severing the strip, and a moistener arranged to act on the portion of the strip backed by the backing member, means being provided for abruptly bending the portion of the strip adjacent to the cutter while the strip is under tension, whereby the free end of the strip is caused to curl away from the moistene 8. A strip-applying device comprising a Wiper located at the opposite side of the strip-holder, means for backing and molstcutter from the main resser-foot. 10 ening a strip issuing therefrom, a presser- In testimony whereof I have afiixed my foot adapted to apply the gunnned strip, a signature, in presence of two witnesses.

5 strip-cutter operatively related to the EDWARD C. BALDWIN. presser-foot and adapted to sever the strip Witnesses: r between its attached portion and the moist- G. F. BROWN,

ener, and a supplemental resser-foot or P. W. PEzzE'r'rI. 

